Method of transmitting power



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. MAIN. METHOD OF TRANSMITTING POWER.

No. 407,089. Patented July 16, 1889;

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

- W. MAIN.

METHOD OF TRANSMITTING POWER.

No. 407.089. Patented July 15, 1889.

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W. MAIN.

METHOD OF TRANSMITTING POWER. No. 407,089. Patented July 16, 1889"\VILLIAM MAIN, ()F

' ATENT OFFICE.

BROOKLYN, NFAV YORK.

METHOD OF TRANSMITTING POWER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 407,089, dated July 16,1889.

Application filed June 13, 1888. Serial No. 276,984. (No model.)

To all whom it 77mg concern.-

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM MAIN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods ofTransmittingPower, fully described and represented in the followingspecification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

The object of my invention is to provide a method for utilizing thedevice known ge nerically as the IVatt sun-and-planet gear for thepractical and uniform transmission of power by restraining the rotationof the oscillating member of said sunand-planet gear, so that it shallassume successive positions of strict parallelism with itself, andgraduating the restraining force, thereby permittingpar t-ial rotationof the oscillating member of the gear for the purpose of putting themechanism into operation gradually or of varying from time to time thespeed of transmission. This method may be carried out in a large varietyof ways and by the use of an indefinitely-varied construction ofmechanism.

One of the constructions of mechanism adapted for the purpose isillustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a sideelevation, partly in section, of the said mechanism. Fig. 2 is a planView. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, the point of viewbeing to the left of said figure; and Fig. is a section taken on thesame line, the point of view being to the right of said figure.

1n the drawings, 1 indicates a driving-shaft adapted to be operated fromany convenient source of poweras, for instance, a motor for driving avehicle. This shaft carries fast upon it an eccentric 2, which movesfreely within a circular opening in a gear-wheel 3, which constitutesthe fixed or initial member of the sun-and-planet series. Outside of andabout this gear-wheel is an annular gear 4 concentric with thedriving-shaft 1 and bolted to a flange 5 of a sleeve or hollow shaft 6,mounted upon the main shaft and carrying at its center a flange 7, towhich are bolted the two halves 8 and 9 of a gear-wheel, from which thepower is transmitted to the driven mechanism, which would be in the casesupposed the driving-axle of the vehicle. The sleeve 6 rests in anysuitable bearings, as 10. At the opposite end of the sleeve is a secondflange 11, with which is connected a second set of devices identicalwith those above described, except that the ratio between the inner andouter gear-wheels is varied, this additional mechanism being provided inorder that it may be possible to vary the speed of the driven mechanism.These two devices at the ends of the sleeve in Fig. 1 being identical inconstruction, with the exception, as stated, that the ratio between thegear-wheels varies, the same numbers of reference have been applied tothe parts in each case, and the following description may be understoodas applicable to both parts of the device.

It should be here stated that the devices are herein shown in duplicatein order to preserve uniformity between this application and the otherseveral applications filed of even date herewith, and that a single setof devices only is essential to the proper carrying out of my method.

To the inner gear-wheel 3 is rigidly fixed a slide 12, from the centerof which projects an annular screi'v-tlu'eaded rim 13, which enters theinterior of the gear and is locked therein, as shown in the left-handpart of Fig. .1. This slide is provided with lugs 14, which fit a recessin cross-head 15, in turn provided with cylindrical lugs 19, fittingcylindrical sockets 16, formed in a pulley 17, mounted upon and rotatingabout the main shaft, This pulley 17 is made up of two castings 17 17",bolted together, as shown, one of the castings 17 having a hub 18, whichconstitutes the bearing-wheel. The cross-head 15 has an oblong centralopening, which permits it to move in the direction of its lugs 19 overlines, and uniting the gear and the pulley as regards circular motion.Oonsequen tly when the pulley 17 freely revolves about its axis the gear3 is also free and will convey no power from the shaft to the outer gear4. WVhen, however, the pulley 17 is restrained or held fast in oneposition, the gear 3 will be carried about by the eccentric in aposition constantly parallel to itself, and will communicate to theouter gear 4 a rotating motion reduced to an extent dependent upon theratio between the two gears. The amount of this reduction may be readilycalculated according to well-known rules which require no specialexplanation here.

It is necessary to provide devices for the restraining of the pulley 17in order to effect the transmission of power through the gears, and forthis purpose I prefer to use a friction-clutch, although an y other formof clutch mechanismfor instance, a spring-clutch may be employed, asillustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, wherein a strap 20 passes about the pulley17, the ends of the strap being pivoted to a cross-piece 21, fastenedupona shaft 22, which shaft is revolved, as desired, by a handle 23,attached thereto, whereby the strap is tight ened or loosened torestrain or release the pulley.

The double slides and pulley constitute one form of restraining or guidemechanism with which the rotation of the oscillating member of thesun-and-planet series of gear may be restrained.

My invention further includes the gradual initiation of powertransmission through the gears, so that the shock and jar to the drivenmachinery may be avoided, and also so that a very slow rate of movementmay be used while the inertia of the driven mechanism in starting isbeing overcome. This I accomplish by graduating the restraining forceapplied to the oscillating gear-wheel. In the case of the mechanismherein described it is accomplished by gradually applying friction tothe pulley 17. The effect of this is to at first only partially restrainthe rotation of the oscillating gear-wheel 3, theresult being,

.instead of the normal speed of transmission,

a speed dependent upon the amount of friction applied, and which may bevery slow.

In the same manner I may graduate the re straining force to vary thespeed of transmission after starting is effected, if desired.

In the mechanism shown two friction-straps are used-one for eachpulley-so connected wlth their arms 21 that in one position of the shaft22 one of the said pulleys is restrained and the other released, and inthe other position thereof the action of the straps upon the pulleys isreversed. By the use of this mechanism either one of the two sets ofgears may be brought into operation, according to the speed desired tobe given to the driven mechanism. If more than two speeds are desiredfor the driven mechanism, the number of sets.

of gears may be accordingly increased.

While in the foregoing description I have set forth a particular form ofapparatus whereby my improved method maybe successfully practiced, Idesire to be distinctly understood as intending to vary the saidapparatus as oocasion may require.

The mechanism by which the rotation of the oscillating gear-wheel isrestricted, and the said wheel thus caused to assume successivepositions of parallelism to itself, finds additional illustration invarious forms of apparatus for the purpose shown in other applicationsfiled by meto wit, Serial Nos. 248,011, 276,982, 276,983, 276,985,276,986, and 276,987. v

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to protectby Letters Patent, 1s-

1. The method of obtaining uniformity of motion in the driven member ofa sun-andplanet gear and graduating the speed of transmission from thedriving member thereof, which consists in restraining the rotation ofthe oscillating member, so that said member shall assume successivepositions of parallelism with itself, and graduating the restrainingforce to correspond to the speed of transmission desired, substantiallyas described.

2. The method of obtaining uniformity of motion in the driven member ofa sun-andplanet gear and graduating the speed of transmission from thedriving member thereof, which consists in restraining the rotation ofthe oscillating member of the gear by the application of friction, sothat said member shall assume successive positions of parallelism withitself, and graduating the amount of friction so applied to correspondto the speed of transmission desired.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

\VILLIAM MAIN.

Witnesses:

'l. H. PALMER,- J. J. KENNEDY.

